Become immersed in local history with a stay on the High Head Castle estate, a ruined manor house set amongst splendid scenery with the River Ive running past. Plenty of original charm has been maintained in this exceptional courtyard property, complete with original beams, exposed brickwork and bespoke fittings throughout. With space for five guests to stay, this quirky accommodation choice is an excellent offering for families or friends eager to get to know both the Lake District and Cumbria’s dramatic Solway Coast AONB, just 25 miles away.
On arrival, you’re first greeted by an impressive double-height living space with a lounge, kitchen and diner, complete with a snug-style mezzanine accessed via a spiral staircase. In the lounge area, you’ll find cushy seating with a wood burner and a TV, a great place to crash after preparing a delicious dinner and raising a glass at the dining table. From here, a flight of stairs leads down to the ground floor with bedrooms, a bathroom and underfloor heating throughout – a great feature to combat those cold Cumbrian nights. The bedrooms are versatile, with a zip-and-link to be made up as a twin or a super-king-size where required, and a snug single room is a lovely place for one guest to stay.
Having admired the scenery from the bench in your very own garden space, make an action plan for a big day and head out on an adventure. The history-packed city of Carlisle is just a drive away (8.5 miles), complete with a castle, a cathedral and plenty of independent businesses to satisfy the shopping bug. The city centre train station is famed for its Settle to Carlisle railway line, an exceptionally scenic route stretching over 70 miles through the Cumbria and the Yorkshire Dales, crossing the Ribblehead Viaduct. It’s well worth the day out with stop-offs at Appleby (27 miles) and Langwathby (18 miles).